There is a way you can stop getting unsolicated credit card offers ("you are pre-approved for a credit card"). The 3 credit Bureaus offer a toll-free number that enables you to "opt-out" of having pre-approved credit offers sent to you for two years. Call 1-888-5-OPTOUT (567-8688) for more information.

I've always hated getting the pre-approved credit card mailings because I was frightened they might fall into the wrong hands. Last year my husband and I "opted out" after reading about the service in the newspaper. I am happy to report that we haven't gotten a "pre-approved" credit card offer in the last 9+ months!

You can find more information about Opting Out on the Federal Trade commission web page

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/optoutalrt.htm

-- Margarete (forpippin@earthlink.net), April 06, 2002

Answers

I love getting those!! I send them back in the no postage neccesary envelope....BLANK! Bet that drives them crazy.

Funny thing is,they pay the postage...TWICE !

-- Johna (in central TX) (marcnjohna@aol.com), April 06, 2002.

I always send them back, too, but with a note saying, "A life of debt is a life of slavery!" I get many fewer than I used to. We used to get these for my husband's first wife who has been dead for close to 20 years. I would put a note on those saying they should contact her at the cemetery.

-- Bonnie (stichart@plix.com), April 08, 2002.